RVing Virtual Assistant

While this may not seem like a topic for a business blog, it's a reality many are facing as a result of tough economic times. Many folks are having to make the tough decision to give up their beloved pets --- either for financial reasons or because a change in housing is necessary. I have worked for many years with dog rescue groups who saw occasional owner surrenders. These turnovers were generally the results of poor choices or poor training methods which resulted in dogs which were deemed too difficult to handle by their original owners.

In recent months that has changed and we are receiving numerous calls from heartbroken owners who are no long able to keep their pet with them due to issues like home foreclosure, lay-offs, or the need to move in with other family members. Parting with their beloved pets is often tantamount to giving away a child. And while many who are reading this may say they would NEVER part with their pet, we must face the fact that at times in our lives things may truly be outside our control.

My purpose here is to help those on both sides of the transition by giving you some guidelines to work with.

IF YOU MUST PART WITH A PET:

If you got your pet directly from a breeder, please contact that breeder first. Tell the breeder of your situation and the need to rehome the pet. Most responsible breeders are concerned for the welfare of the animals they bring into this world. Many will take the animal back until a new home can be found. Other times they will help you in your search for a new home. If your breeder offers to take the pet while looking for placement, please cover transportation arrangements yourself.

If your pet is a specific breed, contact the breed rescue for your pet rather than taking your pet to a local all-breed shelter. Different breeds have different needs and characteristics. Breed-specific rescue groups are aware of those needs and are better prepared to find and screen appropriate homes. They will also follow-up to make sure the placement is a good one.

Make sure you have copies of all medical records concerning your pet and be prepared to turn these over to the receiving party. Not only does this help with any future medical treatment which may be required, it may also avoid repetitive vaccination which is necessary if there are no VAX records.

If at all possible, please make sure your pet is current on all required vaccinations and spayed or neutered (dogs and cats). While rescue groups realize this may not be possible, please remember that all animals must have the required vaccinations before placement in new homes. Additionally, responsible rescue groups will seldom place a cat or dog which is not spayed or neutered. These medical treatments cost money and most rescue groups are non-profit organizations who are extremely short on funds.

When turning over your pet, be prepared to complete a surrender form, officially turning your pet over to the receiving agency. This is a necessary legality to protect the organization from any future problems.

Please put together a resume for your pet: list your pets accomplishments; personality traits (fence jumper?); likes or dislikes, how he/she gets along with other animals, children, etc.; what the pet eats and how often he/she is fed; whether he/she has ever been involved in a biting incident. Also include all relevant medical information: is the pet currently under medical treatment? If so, for what and what is the current treatment/prognosis. Please be truthful here. If the pet requires medical treatment that you are unable to provide, being honest with the receiving party will give them the opportunity to seek a home that is able to provide that care. Finding out about a medical condition after the fact does nothing to help the pet's transition, as it only results in hard feelings on the part of the organization, which has taken on responsibility for the animal's well-being.

If your pet is currently on medication, please include (at a minimum) a week's supply of current medications. This will give the organization time to have the pet vetted, without interrupting the current medical regimen.

If your pet has his/her own blanket, please send that along. If you feel the need to wash it first, do so several days in advance and allow the pet to sleep on it. That way it will smell familiar and be of comfort to the pet during transition.

Providing an old T-Shirt or sock which has been worn by the owner (i.e., dirty) will also provide the animal with a "smell of home" during the transition time.

If there is a special toy, please include that with the blanket, etc. Animals find comfort in continuing to have these things in their lives.

Make sure your pet has a well-fitted collar and leash. If, for sentimental reasons, you wish to keep these items, please purchase replacements if at all possible.

Plan to provide a week's worth of food for your pet. Obviously, if you feed a a raw diet, this will probably not work. But if you feed your dog or cat kibble, or your bird likes a particular type of seed, these should be provided in order to avoid digestive upsets.

Please understand that you are releasing the dog for placement and, as such, you will no longer be entitled to have contact with the pet in its new home. Rescue groups seldom allow interaction between the original owners and the adoptive families for obvious reasons. You may receive an update or two from the placement organization, but please understand that such information is provided at the discretion of the organization.

For those of you thinking of adding a new pet to your family, please consider the following:

Take stock of your current lifestyle and home. Be very honest. What can you really afford in the way of a pet? What kind of pet can your space/home/work hours truly accommodate. Do you already have pets? Do you have children?

What breed/type of pet is best suited to your lifestyle? There are many websites offering information on different breeds and their specific need. The AKC has a wonderful board and I notice they have a new program listed on their website for meeting various breeds of dogs and cats. You should definitely visit this website.

Once you have decided on the pet and breed, check the internet for an appropriate rescue group for your choice. If you don't see anything local, check the AKC website as each breed has a rescue group listed. Contacting the rescue group directly. They will know who is handling rescue in your area.

Be prepared to complete a (sometimes lengthy) adoption application, including references, your local veterinarian's information, etc. A home visit is usually arranged by rescue groups. This allows them to ensure you and your home is a good fit for the pet they wish to place with you.

Rescue groups usually charge a placement fee (anywhere from $100 - 500). While your pet may not have needed medical treatment, spay/neuter or vaccinations, another one may. And pets pulled from shelters (i.e., dumped at the shelter or picked up as strays) often require extended medical treatment before they can be placed. As nonprofits, these organizations operate on small budgets. Vet bills for a particular pet may be excessive. Your adoption fee helps to cover those costs.

Many older dogs* arrive in rescue -- often this happens when their owners are forced to go into facilities where they cannot keep their pet. Or the dog may need medical treatment and the owner doesn't have the funds or doesn't want to deal with it. Older dogs often have the added advantage of being calmer and better trained. Please DO consider giving an older dog a good forever home.

Homes with small children are NOT ideal for many dog breeds. Children move quickly, often squealing in loud, high-pitched voices, arms flapping. For animals with strong prey drives, these children may be seen as small prey.

NEVER leave young children alone with a pet. Interaction should always be supervised for the protection of the animal as well as the child. Even if you think your children are dog saavy, for instance, something very small could set off an incident. Please be pro-active for the safety of your children AND for the safety of the pet involved.

Contrary to popular opinion, rescues do NOT always come loaded down with emotional baggage. Dogs live in the present. Cats are very independent. The foster families will be able to give you useful information on pets they are fostering. Rescues seem to know they've been given a 2nd chance and they often are closer to their new families than pets which were originally purchased as babies.

Be prepared to introduce your new pet to resident pets on NEUTRAL ground. I lived at the back of a cul-de-sac, so we always did introductions out in the street circle. A nice walk with new and old pets on-leash often reduces friction.

Give your new pet time to adjust to the environment. Crating is good as the pet has a place where he/she can retreat when things are overwhelming.

When introducing a new pet into your family, feed all pets in separate locations. I feed mine in crates when a new one comes into the group. Never give high value treats (such as raw bones) to the group as a whole. By doing so you are inviting a food fight -- never a good thing.

Watch animal interaction carefully during the first few days. It is generally best to crate/separate them when you are not around.

Arrange to join a basic obedience class with your new pet. Even if the dog, for instance, appears well-trained, attending a class together will reinforce the dog's knowledge, enforce YOU as the alpha in the home and make sure you are all on the same page with instructions/hand signals/ways of communicating. Check with your local Humane Society or Animal Control Facility to find a class if you are unfamiliar with trainers in the area.

Make sure the new pet knows you are in control. Check online for "Nothing in life is free" training materials. In essence, the animal needs to understand that all things come from you and require something from him first. Most behavior problems are a result of poor or nonexistent training/obedience. A well-trained dog generally has a well-trained owner. NILF comes from a program established by the Denver Dumb Friends League and it is universally recognized as a useful training tool. Folks laugh, but even my Indian Ringneck Parakeet must perform a specific routine before he gets his daily peanut. NILF is not hurtful; it is simply what most of us would expect from our children: responsible behavior and acknowledgement of who is really in control of the household.

Most rescues are housebroken or have some degree of house training. For those working outside the home, this is an advantage over getting a puppy. Pets will learn your particular household habits and rules more quickly from other pets in the home. If you have a dog you are unsure of, put him on a leash and attach the leash to your belt --- that compels him to stay with you and he learns to adapt to whatever situation he encounters as you move about.

Be prepared to keep your new companion on his/her normal diet for a few weeks --- some animals transition to new foods quickly, some do not. And a few have food allergies that must be taken into consideration.

Plan to have your vet do a check-up of your new pet within the first 30 days. If there is a reason you feel you cannot keep your new pet, most rescue organizations provide for refusal within the first 30 days of adopting the pet.

If, down the line, you are unable to keep your new pet --- PLEASE contact the organization that placed him/her with you. Many rescue groups require that you return the pet to them. Others may help you find a new home for your pet. This ensures that the pet does not end up in a shelter. Shelters are already overrun with animals and some breeds of dog, for instance, do not do well on personality testing done by shelters. In those cases the dogs are often euthanized without any effort being made for placement.

In the end, remember that taking on a pet is a commitment -- a real responsibility. Be a responsible pet owner: make sure your pet is spayed/neutered; keep your pets confined or on-leash -- don't let them roam the neighborhood unfettered; make sure your pet has proper medical treatment and is kept well-groomed. Grooming problems can lead to health problems.

Giving an older pet a home is a wonderful way to help. Older pets offer a calmer way to bring a new pet into your household. And it breaks the heart of most pet volunteers to see these older pets languish in facilities because everyone wants a puppy or a kitten.

Feel free to contact your local rescue groups for more information. I can tell you from personal experience that we all need more foster homes, volunteers, and folks willing to adopt a pet. All of the rescue groups I know of are totally volunteer operations. If you can't take a pet in, you can certainly help through doing reference checks (by telephone), home visits, transporting rescues, helping at fund-raising events, or contributing in other ways. Get involved and help make these tough economic times easier for folks giving up their beloved pets and the pets in need of new homes.

Remember when you were a kid and started
compiling your Christmas List the day after school started in the fall?
I’m old enough to recall the arrival of the Sears & Roebuck Christmas
Catalog ---- oh what a treasure trove. I wanted this and this and this and
just HAD to have that. Fall passed, leaves fell and Michigan settled in
for the long winter ahead. Nothing mattered to my brother and me except
thumbing through the never-ending array of toys in that catalog. Our
lists were changed and revised so many times it’s a wonder Santa (or Mom) ever
figured out what we REALLY wanted. But somehow the right things always
ended up under the tree on Christmas morning.

Fast Forward 40 (OK ---- make that 50!) years. What
rings my bell today? What do I REALLY want at this time in my
life? Get out a paper and pen and ask yourself that
question. Pretend you’re a child again and the holidays are
approaching. What would be on YOUR Wish List today?

Just as the lists of our childhood
changed daily, the lists of adulthood change daily too. Don’t
misunderstand me --- there’s nothing wrong with dreaming. Without dreams
we’d miss a lot of great opportunities. But at some point we have to
focus our energies in order to realize those dreams.

But I WANT That Job!

Years ago I
interviewed for a job with a well-known trial lawyer. I wanted that job
so very badly --- he’d made national headlines and I just
saw myself zooming to the top of the heap if I worked for him.
Unfortunately he was not so sure. The position he was hiring for required
far less education and experience than I had. And he was smart enough to
appreciate that.

After numerous
interviews and conversations, as I (foolishly) begged him for the opportunity
to work for him, he taught me a valuable lesson. Painful as they were, I
will never forget his words on the phone that evening: “This job will
never challenge you. In a few months you will be bored to tears.
You deserve better. Find the fire in your belly and chase THAT
dream. If you have a fire in your belly, you will do a great job and
enjoy every moment you are doing it. Without that fire, you will waste your
life and lose the respect of those you work with.”

Wow.
Little did I know how long those words would ring in my ears. Over the
years I often witnessed firsthand the wisdom of those words as I watched so
many come into the legal field only to leave a few months later --- totally
disillusioned with a career choice made on the basis of what someone else
wanted.

Memories . . . .

As a child I
remember passing a local shoe salesman at the local diner --- he was in the
process of pouring Bromo Seltzer (an antacid made from acetaminophen, sodium
bicarbonate and citric acid) from one glass to another to dissolve the powder
in the water. This man and my parents had gone to school together and he
was considered a family friend. I asked my Mother what he was doing and
why. Mom said he was taking the foaming liquid for a hangover.
Nobody in my family drank (or at least nobody that I new of at that time), so
the term meant nothing to me. Mom sighed and said unfortunately Harry had
been forced into taking over his Dad's shoe store instead of going on to
college. To hide from his despair, Harry now drank too much.

She added the
same thing happened to the guy who ran the men's clothing store down the
street. In high school I dated Jeff -- the son of the fellow who
owned/ran the men's clothing store. When I returned to my hometown for
Mom's funeral I was was pleased to learn Jeff had become a pharmacist ---
unlike his father, he had been allowed to follow HIS dream.

Granted, we
can’t all work at wonderful jobs all the time. Especially in today’s
economy. But EACH OF US should have a dream – something we really want to
do --- something to aim for. If you really enjoy
making furniture, painting cars, cooking, teaching --- follow those instincts
to your dream. So what if it doesn’t pay $350 an hour. You’ll be
happier doing it, your customers and coworkers will feel that spirit in your
work product and --- ultimately --- you will probably have more work than you
know what to do with. And, should we be lucky enough to work for
ourselves, we should be working TOWARDS that dream.

IS A FIRE BURNING IN YOU TODAY?

Do you
wake up every morning ready to embracethe new opportunities your work
offers? Do you yearn to be the absolute best at what you do? Would
you relish this job, even if you were not paid to do it? Are you on fire for your work?

In
today’s market every business has numerous competitors. What sets you
apart from YOUR competitors is that “fire in your belly.” Clients
recognize that fierce desire and respond positively to it. Like moths to
a light, folks are attracted to that kind of energy.

If
you ARE working at your dream job, just know how lucky you are and honor every
moment you spend living your dream. If you are NOT working at your dream
job, it’s time to decide what you really want to do when you grow-up.
Life is too short to waste. Figure out what lights your fire and go for
it!! We seldom regret what we’ve tried and left behind; we always regret
what we did not do!

Need
help? I’ve helped many folks fight their way through the maze and would be
delighted to help you too. Whatever you do, learn to welcome change and the lightness
it brings to your life.

OK -- 2009 has arrived. In all it's glory. And, as usual, we are faced with a host of predictions for this new year. Some are wonderful; most are filled with doom and gloom. Well, here's what I have to say about that:

"DON'T THROW AWAY TOMORROW!"

Several folks I know committed suicide during the final months of 2008. Their reasons for doing so were varied. But the outcome was the same. Family and friends left dealing with fear, pain, remorse, and more. Perhaps worse then that --- the loss of opportunity!

The Shelf Life of Problems!

Problems have a short shelf-life in the scheme of things. The problems we are facing right now are fleeting. They say history repeats itself and even a cursory look at the past reveals the truth of that statement. My Mother's favorite response was "This too shall pass." A friend's Mother used to say "In 100 years it won't even be remembered." How true those statements are.

The only problems you cannot solve are the problems you decide to ignore. I love Mary Kay's comment on that: ". . . over, under, around or through." Ain't it the truth. If you ignore the elephant in the room, eventually it will become all-consuming.

As a child my grandparents lived with us. My grandmother had a wicked tongue. Back then we called it senility. Today we'd view it as dementia or Alzheimer's. Grandma's bedroom was the former front parlor on the first floor of our old Victorian house. The stairway leading to the second floor was just outside her doorway. If you went up the center of the stairwell she could see you from her chair. If you shimmied along the left wall, she could not. As a teen I spent several years "inching" quietly along that side wall to avoid dealing with my grandmother. Over time I became obsessed with it. Did it change anything? Nope. Grandma continued to yell and scream at us --- even if we were upstairs. All it did was keep me from confronting her and dealing with her "problems" face-to face. Instead of being pro-active I spent those years being reactive.

Reactive vs. Creative!

As a friend pointed out recently, the words "reactive" and "creative" use the same letters. Good point --- one I never thought about. Instead off wasting time feeling trapped by problems, why not get creative and face those problems directly? The sooner we do this, the sooner we can move beyond the roadblock to something more productive.

What is the greatest problem you are currently facing with your business?

Take a piece of paper and make a list of those items you feel present true roadblocks to your success at the moment.

Rearrange them in order of importance.

Now take a slip of paper and cover all but the first entry on the list. Look at that entry and ask yourself the following questions:

(a) Is it REALLY a problem or just an irritation? (b) If it is a problem, realistically, how soon must you deal with it? (c) Now list 5 ways in which you could deal with it.

Why do I say 5 ways? Because that will force you to think outside the box. There are nearly always alternatives --- some better then others. When I start looking for 5 ways to solve a problem I often come up with some really funny ideas that make me laugh. However, after looking at those off-the-wall ideas long enough, they often contain the seeds for a real solution to the problem. Such innovation is where TRUE problem solving exists. It's what inventors and scientists and mathematicians use to solve problems. It's the difference between ignoring something and finding a workable solution.

Put Together A Creative Game Plan

Work your way through the list --- then reorganize the entries based on the new insight you gained from your careful examination of each issue. Now you have a game plan. You know which problems are the most needy and you have 5 creative ways of dealing with each issue.

If --- like many of us --- you work better with vizualization --- get out the yellow post-its and use a blank wall or closet door to create your "Problem Tree." Tackle your tree one problem at a time. As you try or discard a potential solution, remove/update the yellow stickies. When you solve a problem, remove all the stickies related to that problem. You'll be amazed at how good you will feel watching the problems "shrink" from your wall.

The important thing is this: You can only solve problems if you engage them. Why do you think theater groups have dress rehearsals? Because it brings to the forefront problems which have not yet been identified. Dress rehearsals are where problems are addressed and the show REALLY comes together.

Life is Not a Dress Rehearsal!

Dress rehearsals work well for problem solving --- as long as we stay around for the show. In these tough economic times don't give up before your show hits the stage. Do what needs to be done to move your business forward. Make your list, set your goals and move forward.

Everyone has problems. Everyone face obstacles that feel overwhelming at times. You are unique in what you offer your clients. This market allows all of us a great opportunity to streamline our product and help others survive in difficult times. As small businesses, we are uniquely positioned to provide clients with tools that are both productive and cost-effective. Let them see what we bring to the table -- the value of perserverance and innovation. If WE can do it, surely they can rely on us to help THEM do it. Don't throw away tomorrow. Work at making it better for you and your clients! Lead to succeed!

OK -- we've made it through the first 2 days of 2009. Hopefully it's been a relatively painless transition for you. I confined myself to popcorn and tea on New Year's Eve so I felt great yesterday. I've spent 2 days reviewing my systems, reading blogs, posting on social networks, and wrapping up loose ends.

Now what? That's always the question, isn't it? Now what?

Well --- I think it's about time to hear from all of you out there. What are YOU doing differently for your business this year? What kinds of changes hold the key to your personal success and how do you feel they will improve your business?

You may comment here, or send me an email. If we get enough responses, I'll gather them into a document and make it available for download to those who are interested.

Come on now --- this is your chance. Be creative --- share your ideas and thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you all. Let's start this year with a BANG! 2009 is young and together we can make it a successful year.

The last week has been difficult, to put it lightly. But with the help and support of marvelous friends, I survived! I know I am not alone in that regard. But more about that in another blog.

Today I just want to wish one and all the happiest of Holiday Seasons. Whether you celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, I hope you and your loved ones have a joyous time.

I have been truly blessed. In the last year I have made so many wonderful new friends via my transition to working and living full-time in my vintage 1978 Holiday Rambler Travel Trailer, this blog, clients, friends in the Giant Schnauzer and RVing communities, as well as my family and good friends of many years. As I think back over the last year, faces drift by like the scenery outside my window. What a year it has been. Full of celebrations of high and low moments and tears of happiness and sadness.

As so many face critical decisions during this holiday time, I wish for all one small moment of peace, love and tranquility. Reach out to those around you --- a kind word, a pat on the back, a smile --- you never know when such a simple gesture may mean the world to someone quietly struggling alone. Now is the time to come together as a community. Alone we are a small circle of life. Together are a springboard for hope.

Helen Keller said, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." My hope is that we can all live that life well.

SEASONS GREETINGS TO ALL

Recently I received a Google alert regarding virtual assistants and proceeded to check out an entry entitled "$200 Miracle" by Karl Palachuk. I read his Blog and the more I read, the more irritated I became. I could simply restate his opinion here, but I think it more appropriate to let you read it for yourself.

$200 Miracle

I'm amazed at the people I meet in this business who haven't yet hired an assistant of some kind.

To be honest, it took me ten years to decide that I needed someone. If I had it to do over, I'd hire an assistant my first year.

I refer to my assistant, Jennifer, as my $200 miracle. That's what it cost me per week when I first hired her.

Depending on where you live, you should be able to find an office assistant/bookkeeper for about $10/hr. Start out with 20 hours a week. That's a $200 miracle.

And what does Jennifer do for me?

- To start out, she makes sure bills get put into the system. So I can always open quickbooks and see what we owe at a glance. She works with the accountant to make sure we're using quickbook properly. She balances the checkbook.

- She collects the mail when I don't. She gathers up all the checks and deposits them in the bank.

- When people are a bit slow to pay, she emails them, calls them, gets their credit card information, resends invoices, etc.

- Oh. And she prints up all the invoices for my review.

- She prints off all newsletters and marketing letters. Or has them printed someplace. Stuffs envelopes, applies postage, deals with the post office for bulk mail.

- When I hold seminars, she gets the fruit and coffee and pastries. She organizes all the sales materials, sends out packages as needed, and keeps track of all the office supplies. She orders supplies as needed.

- She handles new employee check-in, payroll processing, and printing all kinds of stuff I don't even keep track of any more. She proofreads everything.

- When something breaks, she calls the landlord or the fix-it place.

- And pretty much anything else we can think of. She's been known to get the pizza for staff meetings and take my car to get the oil changed.

- When there's too much for her to do, she supervises someone else to help get it all done.

--> And that's just for the consulting business. She does even more for the book business!

So this $200 miracle costs me about two hours of billable labor every week. And for that I get a bunch of stuff taken off my place. A bunch of stuff that takes a bunch of time.

Getting Started

Do not -- repeat, do not -- put an ad in the paper or on craigslist for an administrative assistant. Holy Smokes, Batman. You'll be overwhelmed with totally useless resumes.

I started by putting out an ad for an assistant. Got about 130 resumes, includes several dozen from out of state and out of coutry. "I'll be your virtual assistant." Sorry. A virtual assistant can't sit and wait for the air conditioning guy to show up. A virtual assistant can't run down to Staples for staples.

I started to plough through the resumes, but -- and this is key -- I was looking for someone because I was too busy. So I didn't want to read 130 resumes.

Reboot. I put a new ad on craigslist. I said I was looking for a "Person Friday" who would do whatever needs to be done around the offine, including filling my car with gas. I only promised 20 hours. I think I got nine resumes. All of them were from people who were not looking at this as a career move that would eventually lead to being a $60,000 assistant to the governor. All of them understood that this was entry level and not particularly high paying.

I interviewed three people. They were all talented, with a decent education and job experience. To be honest, they were all Moms who needed to spend serious time with the kids and couldn't take a full time job. Their experience varied from graphics to teaching to office work. All were comfortable with computers. All were willing to work and had a great attitude.

Jennifer had some particular skills and interests. And, since she and her husband had owned an S-Corp, she understood some elements of the business side of business.

Over time, Jennifer has received more money, more responsibility, and more hours.

Fear Not

Experience tells us that fear is one of the major reasons we don't grow our businesses. Fear of handing the finances over to someone else. Fear of making a commitment you can't pay for. Fear that you won't have enough for the new person to do.

The reality is: You will need to do a bit of extra work in the beginning. Training takes time. You'll need to side-check her work until you're comfortable.

But here's the promise: If you hire a $200 miracle, she only needs to free up enough of your time to bill two additional hours to pay for it. At the end of a month, you'll have someone who relieves you of ten hours a week AND gets more things done than you do in two weeks. Your business will be able to get that newsletter out on a regular basis. Invoices will go out when they're supposed to. Expenses will be properly entered into quickbooks.

Take the $200 Miracle 30-day challenge: Hire someone 20 hours/week at $10/hr. for one month. My guess is, you'll see a dramatic improvement in your business -- and a reduction in your personal workload.

Posted by karlp at 5:26 AM

OK, now you've read it. What is YOUR opinion. I hope you will take a moment and leave your comments here today. Just move to the "Comments" section at the end of this entry, click on it, and enter your comments.

Aside from the obvious thoughts --- a) how can someone write about virtual assistants without having never utilized one; and b) he sure expects a lot for his $10 an hour --- I also feel it reflects the reason that many people do not succeed when they go into business for themselves.

If you are going to do business in today's world, you have to utilize what is new and good and helpful out there. Whether that be new computer technology, the latest phone gadget, or a virtual secretary. But many are afraid to do that. They only know the kind of corporate "old school" environment they have worked in for the past 20-30 years. So instead of thinking outside the box and availing themselves of what is good and new and useful, they encumber themselves with the old way of doing business. In the end they often strangle their business before it ever gets off the ground.

Admittedly, getting out of one's comfort zone is hard. It's much easier to say to the boys at the Club, "I'll have Suzie-Q, back at the office, take care of this" then it is to explain a virtual assistant to a table full of clients. On the other hand, you really don't need to explain anything to anyone. In most cases the clients won't have any idea where your assistant does her work. All they will know and care about is how knowledgeable she is about YOUR business, how experienced she is at what she does, and how much more efficient you are since you started working with her.

I make calls weekly to law firms, collecting on invoices for one of my clients who acts as an expert witness. Nobody ever questions where I work. They know I work for Ima Expert and that I can provide them with all the information necessary to locate the unpaid invoice --- even going so far as to fax or email them an additional copy. They know I'm going to follow-up with them every few days until the invoice is paid. That's all they need to know. It works. Ima Expert gets paid --- in some cases on invoices that had been outstanding for more than 6 months before I came on the job.

The majority of things Karl mentions above, I do for my various clients --- I even help on seminar days for a local client. In situations where I am not within the client's area, I can arrange for all sorts of assistance by telephone, the internet or email. Often I can get it done more quickly and at less cost then if you had someone in the office do it. Why? Because I have experience with a variety of vendors across the country from all of my years of work in the corporate environment. And those connections pay off, both monetarily and in terms of speed --- which can be a huge asset.

I will agree with Karl on one huge point --- everyone needs help, ESPECIALLY the small business person or consultant. If you have delayed getting help, the only one you are hurting is yourself and your business. I can guarantee you are wasting your valuable time doing things that an assistant could do more efficiently and in less time. Yes, there is a bit of a learning curve. Even if you were to hire new secretary in an ordinary office, there would be a learning curve. So that is really no excuse.

Most virtual assistants are experts at what they do. If they were not, they would not feel comfortable offering their services without someone close by to give them direction or answer questions. The majority come from backgrounds which are varied and which required exceptional attention to detail and the ability to stay motivated and work well unsupervised. They bring those same strengths and knowledge to their work as virtual assistants. When you hire a VA, you get a well-rounded package of exceptional knowledge and experience. Yes, you must interview VAs, just as you would anyone else you would hire. You must make sure their experience meets your needs and meshes with your environment. But once you find that most excellent working companion, you will truly wonder why you waited to long. Today's Assignment: Take 15 minutes and make a list of all the jobs and projects you would hand off to an assistant or secretary were you still working in a corporate environment. Then do some research and find the perfect virtual assistant for you. In most cases you will be able to pay the additional cost of having a reliable VA work for you by picking up a few more hours of billable work --- time which would otherwise have gone into administrative work --- time for which you would never have been paid. See, now you're on your way to Organizationville!

Don't be afraid --- make new friends. Try something new. It's good to break out of the routine sometimes! And take a moment to relax and meet some of my favorite friends. Laughing is good for the soul and you'll find more than one laugh in here. Enjoy!

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